Ivy League all the way. Let the bashing begin...
Ivy League all the way. Let the bashing begin...
I ran at UMaine in the late 80's for Coach Ballinger (Different than Coach Boulanger at UNH). It was a great experience and I am very glad I went there. While I never ran for Coach Lech, he was coaching at Northeastern at the time and always had great teams. I don't think you could go wrong at Maine. Maine seems to be building on a great year this year.
With that said, Coach Boulanger was always great to me when I competed against UNH. He always found me at meets and asked how I was doing. At the 1989 New Englands at Dartmouth, in the 10,000 meters, every lap he cheered me on and gave advice. I thought that was a classy thing to do considering I ran at a rival school. He is a good man.
uri could HOUSE unh, maine or most other new england schools. gimme a break. john copeland is the man. go to skool at uri.
I ran for Coach B for for 3 years, starting in 1995. His program has developed quite a bit since then. He has a knack for taking local medoicre talent and turning them into top NE runners. In recent years his program has attracted more than just "local talent" noe that he has a more extensive staff and awesome facilities. The new track is a far cry from the pothole-ridden strip of concrete that we used to run on.
Mileage was high...60+ every week. The attrition rate for freshmen was high (stress-fractures, etc), however, I think he has done a better job keeping the miles in check for new, inexperienced runners. Overall, I would say he is an awesome coach and really knows what he is doing (as evidenced by his record). My only complaints are that he was stretched too thin with the men's and women's teams and the scholarship money was a joke.
I would be happy to answer any more questions via email:
Careful when talking about a "great guy".. doesnt always mean great coach, or vice versa. parcells is hated by most of his players....
To whomever started this thread:
Thanks for your interest in my alma-mater. Your times indicate that you would fit right in as a developmental athlete on UNH\\\'s team. The coaching staff there is always willing to work with someone that takes running seriously and puts in 100% effort. You will get attention and go as far as your legs will take you if you follow their training.
Coach Boulanger is a great coach and knows how to run a program. Coach Hoppler is a true running guru and gets surprising results from the distance runners. Either one of them would be happy to talk track with you for an hour before or after practice any day. They always have time for their athletes.
There are plenty of reasons to seriously consider checking this school out. They are a mid-major running school, meaning that they usually only send one of their distance runners to NCAAs about every year or so, but their teams have quite a bit of regional success. Sooner or later they will qualify for NCAAs as a team. If you want a good team atmosphere, if you want to win conference titles, and if you want to improve individually to your fullest extent, UNH is a fine choice for a school.
They have a first-rate outdoor track and an excellent trail system. It is no surprise that no less than 3 Olympic distance runners have called the Durham area their home in the last 10 years. (C. O\\\'Brien, L. Jennings, P. Pfitzinger) There is an adequate indoor track. The academic standards have gotten a lot higher in recent years, meaning it may be difficult to get accepted. The dorms, dining halls, library, and academic buildings are very modern. The Jerry Azumah Weight Training facility is amazing...
UNH has developed a reputation as a party school due to a couple unfortunate incidents in the recent past. While I was there, this didn\\\'t adversely affect my college experience. If you want to get an education, improve as an athlete, and still enjoy a modicum of a social life, Durham will do quite nicely. Did I mention that 65% of the undergrads are female? Not a bad ratio, gentlemen...
Any of the other schools mentioned in this thread would be fine choices as well. Maine had one good year and Mark Lech/Jim Ballinger are both good guys. UMass Lowell is legit. Albany has a solid program. URI is okay. (Copeland started at UNH, himself!)
Finally, no offense, but what does it say about your college when you\\\'re trying to poach 10:00 2 milers from UNH? Seriously, get your own recruits, guys!
...Al Bernier \\\'97 (4:33/10:16 HS PRs) (3:49/8:09 college)
Be honest. Jennings, O'Brien and Pfitz did not attend the school and the outdoor track was not a place any of those three did their sessions. It was in horrible condition at the time, like a section of very bad road. Jennings traveled to Cambridge for all her indoor work and occasionally did some outdoor work at Philips Exeter Academy. O'Brien trained on the roads almost exclusively.
Newmarketeer wrote:
Be honest. Jennings, O'Brien and Pfitz did not attend the school and the outdoor track was not a place any of those three did their sessions. It was in horrible condition at the time, like a section of very bad road. Jennings traveled to Cambridge for all her indoor work and occasionally did some outdoor work at Philips Exeter Academy. O'Brien trained on the roads almost exclusively.
I am being honest and I take offense to your statements. Cathy OBrien graduated from UNH three years ago. She has lived in town for over 16 years and lives approximately 13 steps from one of the trails that we used to run on a weekly basis.
Pete Pfitzinger started his Exercise Science grad school work at UNH (while he was working at Timberland) and used to help out coaching the womens team. His wife, Chrissy - an elite NZ mid-distance runner, used to train on UNH's indoor facilities often during the winter.
Lynn Jennings would run trails in Durham and Newmarket all the time. I have passed her on long runs on multiple occasions. She used to live on my favorite 16 mile loop.
P.S. I never said that any of them used the old outdoor track. I agree that it was horrible. The new track is beautiful, though.
uri is just okay, alan??? what about all of those years we were whipping yer asses repeatedly? when's the last time you guys were new england champs in track? or anything for that matter? gimme a break. you guys were and still are a joke.
p.s. poteat and jeremy howard sucked---face it!!!!!!
bump this shit now. get real alan. step up like boulanger does to the buffet table oh so often.
I hear that the UNH distance guys dress-up like chip and dale's dancers. Who they dance for? Coach Hoppler.. Coach Carroll.. who knows? Each other? Has anyone else heard this?
Is it just me, or does Tim Perry remind you of Pluto the dog too? Everytime I see that kid.. I swear he's a brainless as Pluto the dog. Well, he's gotta be some kind of Disney character, right Goofy? I wonder if Mickey will see this tomorrow, I should probably tell him to look for it.
Yours truly,
Timon
PS.. maybe he can play a Hyena when we make a Lion King 3
In response to the clown purporting to be from URI... you're just embarassing your school. All I offer is cold hard facts: UNH's distance running program is superior.
Here's how Rhody's men represented at Franklin Park last fall.
http://gorhody.collegesports.com/sports/m-xc/recaps/100804aaa.html
Here's how UNH fared at the same meet.
http://www.unhwildcats.com/pres0405/cc100804.shtml
URI's top runner couldn't crack UNH's top 7. I'm not going to waste any more of my time backing up this point with the last ten years of results, but here's a hint: it's more of the same.
Roy-
What's your deal? Brush that chip off your shoulder. It's funny that you would bash a guy like Jeremy Howard. You obviously never knew him since he was such a nice guy. This guy was plagued with stress fractures throughout college. I wouldn't say a guy sucked if his first race of the season was the conference meet and he ran so well that he went to nationals as an individual. You are showing your ignorance so shut your mouth.
UNH - great school, nice campus, laid back , lousy financial aid!!! Academics are still good despite some funding problems. Some of the courses in the book aren't ever offered so talk to people in your intended major.You can avoid the driking scene without getting ostracized. Hockey thinks they rule the school. Frats have been getting in a jam.
It is a great place to run distance and Coach B is OK.
Maine - Who would ever want to go there. It is on the other side of the world and absolutely miles from anything worth doing. So unless you want to be a hermit runner - stay away!
URI - OK I guess. Coach is a good guy. I'm not to keen on some of the academics and the running areas can't compare. No decent hills! Seems nearly everyone that goes there for track stays there so something good is going on.
UMass Lowell. - I don't know how coach Gardner does it. Builds strong teams at the D2 level. He is the distance coach. He was a mediocre high school runner who became an excellent college distance runner. He could do the same for you. The school is OK - I guess. It's what you make of it. Now if Coach G was at UNH I'd say it would be no contest. I'd definately go there.
Yo, you all should check it. Holla at Assumption College if yous plans on takin this running stuff serious. Theys gots da hottest unis and girls that will give blowies like the day is long.
RESPECT
As a UML alum I definatly agree that Gary Gardner is a terrific coach. The program at lowell is great for developing average kids. from my freshman class alone, hs 4:23, 944 college 4:07, 3:49, 9:14steeple, hs4:37, 9:44 college 8:24,14:39,30:37. hs 4:22, 9:50 college 4:08, 8:07, 14:21. hs 4:32, 9:47 college 8:20, 14:31. these are average uml results. We had a large freshman class but this is the average level of improvement with each class.
URI has good sprinters and occasionly 800m runners they haven't had much for distance runners since the 80's.
UNH has done a fine job with a number of average hs school runners in the last four or five years. I would strongly recomend their program. The outdoor track is very nice.
What kind of trails do they have at UMass Lowell? Lowell's a pretty urban area.
They've certainly been turning out some pretty decent guys lately. Gary's doing a nice job. UNH lost a few recruits to UML because the kids couldn't get into UNH. Trust me, academics are getting tougher up there in the Granite State.
In Lowell there is a state park less than a mile away from campus with 20 miles worth of trails. They also have a golf course that they can do workouts on. As far as acadmeics go for admission the schools are about even. I know of at least one really good frosh at UNH that did not get into Lowell and I am sure some go the other way.
alan, check out rhody's success on the track. then you can talk a little something to me---bitch!!!!!!